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VW Diesel Probe Scandal

U.S. officials are investigating VW diesel probe scandal to see whether supplier Robert Bosch and Volkswagen conspired to make emissions-cheating program. They’re also looking into whether other automakers outside of VW utilized Bosch programs and software to cheat emissions tests with diesel vehicles.

The investigation continues almost a year since the EPA announced VW used “defeat devices” in hundreds of thousands of the 2.0-liter diesel vehicles. The accusation quickly brought theories that at least one other outside supplier knew about this.

Bosch is now under investigation in the U.S and Germany and is cooperating with U.S. officials in the diesel probe scandal. The company began an inside investigation in 2015 to see if their staff helped make the software for VW. Later, Bosch cleared themselves from any offenses. However, this didn’t stop U.S. powers from continuing to investigate the matter.

CEO Volkmar Denner said that right after the allegations went public, he ordered an internal investigation.

Recently, Bosch was in one of the lawsuits by the U.S. Volkswagen owners. The suit characterizes the supplier as being an active participant in VW’s plan to cheat U.S. customers. They are still working on an official response. However, its delegates say the suit is without stature.

Another supplier, known as “Company A” filed by prosecutors in Michigan, are suspected to be IAV GmbH.

There are more intense investigations of suppliers after James Robert Liang, VW engineer, admits to having been part of making the defeat devices. Now, the suppliers fear that they may have to pay substantial fines for the role they had in violating federal emissions laws.

Fines They May Face

Before the scandal began in 2015, VW thought the maximum fine they would face would be $100 million. VW’s actual settlement now totals over $16 billion. And VW currently designating an additional $2.2 billion to clear up suits with individual states.

Now, some analysts believe suppliers will be held to the same standard if valid evidence of cover-ups and collaborations emerge.